APCNews 135 – Anti-VAW in Pakistan, Egypt, Africa broadband– 14/2/11

――――――――――――――――――――――――APCNews – February 14 2011 – Year XI Issue 135
The news service on ICTs for social justice and sustainable development
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UN Women, led by ex-Chilean prime minister Michelle Bachelet will be officially launched on February 24 during the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. APC women will be there launching a new initiative “I Don’t Forward Violence” – a campaign to build awareness around the damage caused by deliberately or carelessly forwarding violent SMSs, home-made videos or emails. This edition APCNews reports on how campaigners in Pakistan are using the internet to lobby the government for better laws to protect women’s rights and how one young woman was moved by the story of an acid attack survivor to create a digital story which has received a Red Cross young reporter award. Every year in Pakistan more than 100 people are attacked with acid. The majority of them are women.
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― NEWS ―

First online petition by Pakistan development sector: Lobbies govt on violence against women

AUSTIN (KB for APCNews) – Women survivors of domestic violence in Pakistan have long endured twofold abuse – not only at home but by a government that does not protect them. In 2009 there was hope the government would step up to protect women from domestic violence – the National Assembly passed the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, but the bill expired after the Senate failed to pass it. However, a Pakistani women’s rights organisation is working to reintroduce the bill in parliament – through the use of information and communication technology, and after training from APC. http://www.apc.org/en/node/11818/

AUSTIN (KB for APCNews) – “Her story might have daunted me but her strength and courage overwhelmed and even empowered me … I was impressed by how she had taken the bold step of coming forward, taking her life in control and deciding what was best for her,” said Sana Masood in a digital story she created at a APC Feminist Tech Exchange workshop, and which recently won an award in the International Red Cross’ Young Reporter competition. http://www.apc.org/en/node/11856/

Egypt: Regimes cannot overcome the power of people communicating in solidarity

JOHANNESBURG (APC for APC) – “The power of people communicating in solidarity and joint action is a power that even the most over-confident rulers and regimes cannot overcome, not in the long term”, said APC’s executive director Anriette Esterhuysen. “What is happening in Egypt and Tunisia is a demonstration of people’s outrage and courage in the face of long term repression – now played out on and supported by the internet and mobile technologies.” APC joins the global solidarity with the Egyptian people as they take to the streets in the struggle for democratic reform and human rights.http://www.apc.org/en/node/11840/

Why should we care about internet rights? Because internet rights are human rights, says APC

JOHANNESBURG (APC for APC) – The world has witnessed in Egypt and Tunisia that when governments feel threatened not only do they censor individuals but they also try to take away the tools they use to contact and inform each other and organise. APC thinks that internet rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of association, should not be taken from granted, and is working both globally and locally to make them a reality for all.http://www.apc.org/en/node/11855/

JOHANNESBURG (Chakula for APC) The rapid roll-out of fibre optic cables in Africa over the past years brought a wave of optimism to the continent. But governments appear slow to see the potential for economic and social development. In 2008 APC launched three campaigns to advocate for progressive broadband policies in South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Chakula, the newsletter that focuses on APC’s policy work in Africa, evaluated the impact of the campaigns through interviews with Willie Currie, Abiodun Jagun, Eric Osiakwan and others. http://www.apc.org/en/node/11876

APCNews is produced by APC – a worldwide network supporting the use of internet and ICTs for social justice and sustainable development since 1990. Sister news services APCNoticias and APCNouvelles offer original coverage in Spanish and French.